Washing machine



Oct. 3, 1944. M. M. JAcKsoN WASHING MACHINE Filed July 29. 1942 INVENTORT 2a MERL/NM. JACKSON.

ATTORNEK Patented ct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Merlin M. Jackson, San Jose, Calif.` Application July 29, 1942, serial No. 452,737v

(C1. ss- 132) 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in washing machines and has particular reference to the type of washing machine which is particularly adapted for cooperation with aconventional laundry tray. Washing machines of this type usually include an elongated base adapted to be placed on top of a laundry tray, means for fastening the base, an agitator suspended from the base and extending into the tray, a wringer attachment and a clutch mechanism for driving the same, a motor and a general drive mechanism whereby power may selectively be applied to the agitator or to the wringer.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a Washing machine of this type that is exceedingly simple in construction, well organized, and in which all the moving parts are arranged to be subjected to a continuous flow of oil or lubricant, while at the same time no oil or lubricant may escape into the laundry tray.

More particularly, it is proposed to provide a supporting base including a depressed section having a flat bottom and an underslung section for accommodating the motor whereby the motor shaft is brought down to lie flat on the bottom of the depressed section for simplifying the drive mechanism, and whereby the underslung section at the same time may be used as an abutment to cooperate with other means in clamping the base upon the tray.

It is further proposed to arrange the entire drive mechanism in such a manner that all of the parts thereof lie substantially in the same plane, or rather between two closely related planes immediately above the floor of the depressed section, whereby the general arrangement is greatly simplified.

It is further proposed to arrange all the working parts within the depressed section in such a manner that oil is circulated in the latter at all times when the machine is in operation so as to deliver a continuous iiow of oil to all the moving parts While preventing the oil from reaching the laundry tray.

It is a further object of my invention to utilize the particular arrangement of the drive mechanism for lubricating the clutch mechanism by subjecting the latter to a continuous spray of oil by the rapid rotation of a worm used in the drive mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine of the character described that may be easily installed without requiring any plumbing operations. The double tray, in connection with which my Washing machine is used, is, as a rule; provided with a swinging faucet spout mounted over the central partition so as to be adapted for discharge into either laundry tray. h

It so happens that a clutch mechanismfor a wringer attachment, mounted on thebase of the washing machine, also must be positioned over the said partition to allow of discharge of the Wringer into either tray section, and it is usually found that this clutch mechanism, with a superimposed housing, interferes With the faucet spout and requires a certain amount of adjustment to be made in the plumbing before the machine can be properly positioned.

It is proposed in the present invention to rprovide an arrangement whereby the clutch mechanism and its housing are set back from the rear edge of the machine suiciently far to leave ample space for the swinging spout.

And nally, I propose to provide a washing machine of the type described that is economic in operation, easy to manipulate, and attractive 1n appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan View of my Washing machine, a certain portion being broken away;

Figure 2, a front elevation of the same;

Figure 3, an end view of my machine;

Figure 4, a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5, a fragmentary section taken along line 5-`5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6, a vertical section taken along line 6 6 0f Figure 1.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I Wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a conventional laundry tray is fragmentarily shown at A, as set up against the wall B, and as being divided into two sections by a central partition C. A double faucet for hot and cold Water is indicated at D and has a swinging spout E disposed over the partition C.

My Washing machine comprises, in its principal features, a base I, a motor 2, a clutch mechanism 3 for the wringer, a drive pinion 4 for the agitator, and a general drive mechanism lmotion in either .direction l shown,

where wer may be selectively transmitted to thgyciotch mechanism or to the agitator pinion.

The base I is an elongated, rectangular structure comprising a fiat plate l having a downwardly projecting flange l with a nat bottom edge I adapted to rest on two opposing walls of the laundry tray indicated at A. It includes in its principal features, a horizontal depressed section l having a flat bottom 8, and an underslung section Il for accommodating the motor 2 and separated from the depressed section by a wall 8'. The bottom of the underslung section is preferably rounded in cross-section, and one edge of this section, indicated at I I, is adapted to abut against one of the walls of the tray when the base as a whole lies on the top thereof.

A screw |2 is slidably mounted in two brackets I3 projecting downwardly from the base, and may be operated by means of a nut I4 to be movedoutward so as to cause its head I3 to bear on the opposing wall of the tray for clampingly securing the base in place.

The underslungsection I has suitable supporting brackets I6 for mounting the motor therein,

and should be suiilciently deepto bring the motor shaft Il, which includes a flexible coupling I8 when extended through the wall 8', slightly above the flat bottom of the casing 8. The outer end of the shaft Il isvsupported in two brackets I9, and is provided with a worm between the two brackets.

The worm 28 drives the worm gear 2| on the vertical shaft 22, which latter is supported at the bottom in a bearing 23, and at the top in a bearing 24 in the housing 25 for the clutch mechanism 3, the housing forming part of a cover plate 2B for the casing held in position by a number of screws 21. The clutch mechanism, which is intended for connection to the wringer, not shown, should be arranged centrally over the tray partition C, to allow of discharge of the wringer into either tray section.

The worm gear 2| lies horizontally over the bottom of the casing, in the same plane with the worm 20, and an eccentric 28 is arranged immediately above the worm gear to rotate with the shaft 22. The clutch mechanism comprises two bevel gears 29 and 30 loose on the shaft and meshing with a third bevel gear 3|, and a clutch member 32 slidable on the shaft and adapted to be held in neutral position between the bevel gears and to be shifted into engagement with either of the bevel gears for transmitting rotary to the third gear 3|, which latter is connected to drive a wringer, not shown in the drawing.

The pinion 4 is arranged in the end of the casing opposite the clutch mechanism and near the motor. This pinion serves as a driving means for an agitator, which is supported,v by means not on a bushing 33 rising from the bottom of the casing inside the pinion. A suitable mechanism, indicated at 4|, is used for releasably connecting the pinion to the agitator.

A quadrant 34 is pivoted to the bottom of the casing, as at 35, and is toothed to mesh with the pinion 4. The quadrant is actuated for rocking motion about its pivot by means of a connecting rod 36 pivoted to the quadrant, as at 3l, and having its other end connected to the eccentric 28. As the quadrant is rocked back and forth, the agitator is turned back and forth in the familiar manner employed in most washing machines.

In operation, for washing, the clutch member assaaso 32 is moved to neutral position by means of the handle 38, and the agitator is connected to the pinion 4 by operation of the handle 4|. As the motor is turned on, the worm on the shaft I'I rotates the worm gear 2| and the eccentric 28, and the latter imparts, through the link 38, rocking motion to the quadrant 34, which then is transmitted to the pinion 4 and the agitator.

For wringing. the agitator is' disconnected from the pinion 4, by operation of the handle 4I, and the clutch member 32 is'engaged with one of the bevel gears 29-30, by operation of the handle 38.

It will be noted that in this arrangement all of the operating parts of the driving mechanism lie substantialLv in the same plane, or at least are confined between two closely related horizontal planes immediately adjacent the bottom of the depressed section. This includes the shaft I1, the worm 2li, the worm gear 2|, the eccentric 28, the connecting link 36, the quadrant 34, and the pinion 4.

Assuming that there is a generous amount of oil present in thevdepressed section, sufficient for the worm 20 to dip into, the latter, through its rapid rotation, will act as a pump and will cause continuous circulation of the oil throughout the depressed section.' It should be noted that the bushing 33 inside the pinion 4 is permanently fixed in place and does not permit of any leakage toward the agitator and into the wash tray.

At the same time, the worm 20, which rotates very rapidly, continuously pick up oil from the general reservoir and discharges the same upwardly toward the clutch mechanism in the form of a fine spray, which, serves to keep the entire clutch mechanism well lubricated at al1 times.

'I'his will be readily understood by reference to Figure 4. The oil slowly runs down again over the different parts of the clutch mechanism and a considerable part thereof collects on the eccentric and from there flows over the connecting link 36 to the quadrant 34 and the pinion 4, thereby keeping these parts thoroughly lubricated. The connecting rod andthe quadrant may be provided with suitable flanges 42 for guiding the oil along the lengths thereof.

Attention is called to the fact that in the arrangement shown the worm 20 is mounted opposite the bevel gear 3| so that; the latter does not interfere with the spraying operation and receives the full beneflt thereof.

Due to the arrangement described, the depressed section 8 of the base is set forward of the underslung section Ill, while again the clutch mechanism with its housing 25 is positioned forwardly of the main driv shaft 'I'his leaves ample space between the clutch housing 25 and the wall B to allow for `the faucet arrangement, without requiring any alterations in the plumbing, which is very desirable because usually the salesman who installs the washing machine is not a licensed plumber, and not familiar with plumb'ing operations.

l. Abase for a tray washer adapted t) rest on a laundry tray comprising a flat plate having depending marginal flanges resting on said edges, a shallow depressed section in said plate extending longitudinally from the right edge of the base toward the left and through the major portion thereof and having a flat bottom disposed above the bottom plane of the flanges, an underslung section in the left end of the plate adjacent the depressed section and adjacent the rear-wall of the tray and being sufficiently deep to :bear against the left and rear walls of the tray, a wall separating the two sections, and adjustable means bearing against the right wall of the tray to cooperate with the underslung vsection in clamping the base upon the tray, the underslung section y being adapted, by reason of its depth, to accommodate a motor and to lposition the motor shaft extending through the separating wall in close proximity to the bottom of the depressed section and below the plane of the plate.

2. A base for a tray washer adapted to rest on a laundry tray comprising a flat plate having depending marginal anges resting on said edges, a shallow depressed section in said plate extending longitudinally from the right edge of the base toward the left and through a major portion thereof, and having a rear edge spaced from the rear edge of the base and a flat bottom disposed above the bottom plane of the flanges, an underslung section in the left end of the plate adjacent the depressed section and adjacentvthe rear wall of the tray and being sufficiently deep to bear against the left and rear walls of the tray, a wall separating the two sections, and adjustable means bearing against the right wall of the tray to cooperate with the underslung section in clamping the base upon the tray, the underslung section Ibeing adapted, by reason of its depth and position, to accommodate a motor and to position the motor shaft extending through the separating wall immediately adjacent the rear wall of the depressed section and in close proximity to the bottom of the depressed section and below the plane of the plate.

3. A base for a tray washer adapted to rest on a laundry tray, comprising a flat plate having depending marginal iianges resting on said edges, a shallow depressed section in said plate extending longitudinally from the right edge of the base toward the left and through the major portion thereof, and having a iiat bottomy an underslung section in the left end of the plate adjacent the depressed section and being suflciently deep to bear against the left wall of the tray, a wall separating the two sections, and adjustable means bearing againstthe right wall of the tray to cooperate with the underslung section in clamping the base upon the tray, the underslung section being adapted, by reason of its depth, to accommodate a motor and to position the motor shaft extending through the separating wall in close proximity to the bottom of the depressed section and below the plane of the plate.

MERLIN M. JACKSON. 

